As the weather turns colder and we head toward the new year and holiday festivities, many couples will begin planning their weddings while others begin to plan their proposals! This time of year is definitely one of my favorites.
This week, we’ll continue to talk about questions to ask your wedding professionals and today we’re covering transportation providers.
We won’t go over the obvious, like wedding date and reviews as that is a given by now! That said, there are plenty of questions remaining to find the perfect transportation for your wedding, whether it is just for you and your wedding party, and/or all of your guests staying at a hotel.
Many couples already have a good idea of what they’re looking for prior to reaching out to transportation professionals when it comes to this topic. So, a good question to start with is what kind of makes, models, and ultimately the variety of vehicles they can provide to you. If you have your heart set on a red stretch limo – it’s important to know they have one available!
From there, you want to figure out how many guests will need transportation to and from the hotel, ceremony, reception, and any other extra plans you’d like included. Keep in mind that your guests will not need to arrive in a flashy vehicle like the bride and groom – however, they will still be dressed in formal attire and may require a little extra breathing room than normal. You can work with your transportation provider to determine the right amount of seating to ensure your guests are comfortable. These seasoned professionals will point you in the right direction! 
If your goal is simply to get guests from point A to point B, there’s nothing wrong with that! That said, some couples prefer the vehicles to offer beverages, TVs, and other amenities. And some couples prefer a simple school bus (yes, they do in come in white!) to transport their guests. Prior to agreeing on a contract, this needs to be discussed with your provider to ensure you’re getting exactly what you want.
When renting vehicles, the common charge you may or may not see is for mileage and gas. Determining the cost of each vehicle needed, plus any other extra or hidden fees, is imperative to staying within your budget. Please be sure to ask your provider if they offer any group packages, and what those packages provide. One of the worst things is preparing your budget for a certain cost only to find out there will be extra funds needed to cover everything you want – this could include gas prices. Gas prices can increase overnight, and some transportation providers include a section in their contract that indicates pricing may change due to fuel prices at the time of your event.
As the wedding gets closer, one thing I nail down as soon as possible is who the driver(s) will be for your day and what their contact information is. This is something your planner will typically do to ensure they have contact with the driver on wedding day in order to coordinate with them and make sure your guests are not left stranded somewhere! I have heard horror stories about this and make entirely sure my couples do not go through this!! If you are not hiring a planner, this is something to be sure to do on your own so no guests are left on the wrong route. I actually had a wedding a few years ago, where the bus broke down bringing guests to the wedding venue. The driver called me, told me how they were remedying it, and all guests arrived at the venue (in a different bus) with a couple of minutes to spare. And, the couple knew nothing about that hiccup until weeks later (when someone told them!).
Ultimately, you just want to ensure that there is proper communication between you and your transportation provider. There are plenty of things that can go wrong with your wedding if you are not diligent from the start on how you select ALL of your vendors. That said, I can help! I am always happy to go over options and have a preferred vendors list readily available to discuss your options with you, and who will provide the best service for your big day. Call me to set up a free consultation!
Lexi
Cover image: vehicle provided by Alpha Sedan and Limo; photo by Mayberry & Stone Photography
Party bus image: vehicle provided by On the Town Limousines LLC; photo — their website
Trolley image: photo by tPoz Photography
